The National Commission, set up to implement the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), met today to ratify further progress on the reforms ahead of next month's deadline.

Key amongst those reforms is the setting up of a National Compensation Fund for victims of the unrest in Bahrain last year and the families of the deceased. The Commission emphasized "the independence and integrity of Bahrain's judicial system" in implementing the legal decree to establish the fund.

The National Commission pointed out that this was "an important step towards national reconciliation, the quick achievement of which is a priority of the current phase of reform in the Kingdom to remedy the social rift and maintain public security".

The National Commission also agreed to write to the Government on the necessity of developing a national reconciliation programme addressing the grievances of groups who believe themselves to be deprived of equality in political, social and economic rights. This would ensure benefits to all people throughout Bahrain's civic society. International experts will be enlisted to ensure swift and progress is made according to international standards of human rights.

The Commission’s Chairman, H.E. Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, pointed out during today's meeting that the Government of Bahrain had responded well in providing the Commission with all draft laws to be introduced to implement the recommendation.

The meeting also reviewed Government progress on implementing other BICI recommendations, including an expanded training programme on the rules of public order for public security forces, national security personnel, the Bahrain Defence Force personnel, and private security companies. The Government has embarked on a comprehensive training programme for the National Security Agency, beginning this week. The training curriculum will include lectures on the fundamentals of human rights, professional codes of conduct, and how to interact better with the community.

The Government has also detailed significant progress made on consultations with the private sector on reinstating remaining dismissed workers. Further announcements on reinstatements are expected shortly.

A number of National Commission members will today meet with the team of French media experts currently visiting Bahrain, as part of the Government’s efforts to implement BICI recommendations on raising the standards of the Bahrain media, and bringing media regulation up to international standards. H.E. Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh stressed the important role the media plays in democratic systems, and that this necessitates continuous development and enhancement.